Gary Potter BL

Chairman, Professional Conduct Committee

Brona Adams
49 Bearnagh Drive
Belfast
BT11 8HS

Sent by email and post

18th May 2016

Dear Ms Adams
Re: Professional Conduct Committee of the Bar Council
Complaints Against A Member of the Bar of Northern Ireland Mr Barra
McGrory QC
These matters were considered further by the Professional Conduct
Committee at a meeting on 10th May, 2016.
On this occasion the
Committee had before them a response from Mr McGrory, which had
been provided through his solicitor.
To recount, your complaints about Mr McGrorys professional conduct
were set out in your emails 31.08.14, 16.09.15 and 10.01.16. In reaching
a decision about these complaints the Committee took account of:
a) The likelihood that in any future disciplinary hearing these
complaints would be regarded as mere assertions on your part;

91 CHICHESTER STREET
BELFAST, BT1 3JQ
NORTHERN IRELAND

DX Number
002 NR BELFAST

Telephone
+44(0) 28 9056 2204

Gary Potter BL
Chairman, Professional Conduct Committee
b) That Mr McGrorys statement to the PSNI 28th August, 2012 was for
the purposes of criminal proceedings only and as a disclosed
document and accordingly, could not be adduced in evidence, if
this was deemed an appropriate step to take, in any future
disciplinary hearing;

c) That there is no evidence that Mr McGrorys professional conduct

subsequent to his Call to the Bar of Northern Ireland on 27th
March, 2009 in any way prejudiced the outcome of the trial of
your husband, Liam, in either April, 2013 or September, 2013.
d) Mr McGrorys professional work in 2007, when he represented his
client, Mr Gerry Adams, was carried out as a qualified solicitor
and not as a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland.
e) Mr McGrorys statement 28th August, 2012 was not used in
evidence at either trial, nor was Mr McGrory called as a witness.
Accordingly, Mr McGrory cannot have committed perjury and no
prosecution alleging that he withheld information from the PSNI
was brought.
f) That the computer minute was disclosed to the PSNI and the legal
representatives of your husband Liam in advance of the appeal
hearing in March, 2015. Neither the disclosure of this minute nor
any other of the points raised by you in the aforementioned
emails were mentioned during the appeal, which was dismissed.
g) That there is no evidence that Mr McGrory knew or ought to have
known at the time he made his statement to the PSNI on 28th
August, 2012 that the aforementioned minute was on his
computer.
91 CHICHESTER STREET
BELFAST, BT1 3JQ
NORTHERN IRELAND

DX Number
002 NR BELFAST

Telephone
+44(0) 28 9056 2204

Gary Potter BL
Chairman, Professional Conduct Committee
By reason of the foregoing, the Committee determined that a prima
facie case of professional misconduct does not exist and has decided to
dismiss your complaints.
There is a review procedure available in some limited circumstances. If
you want further information concerning the review procedure you must
contact me within 10 days of the date of this letter.
Yours sincerely,

On behalf of the
Professional Conduct Committee

91 CHICHESTER STREET
BELFAST, BT1 3JQ
NORTHERN IRELAND

DX Number
002 NR BELFAST

Telephone
+44(0) 28 9056 2204